Accumulation of electric charges in hydroxyl-terminated polybutadiene based composite solid propellant

Abstract

Composite solid propellants prepared with HTPB prepolymer-Hydroxyl Terminated Polybutadiene, AP-Ammonium Perchlorate as oxidizer and aluminum particles as an additive metal, have characteristics of high electrical resistivity. The loading process of the polymer matrix did not obtain homogeneity, resulting in clusters, mainly of metal particles. The effect of clustering in the composite was studied and observed experimentally, and this effect was one of the factors explaining the phenomenon of electrical charging of the composite. This electrical potential, when discharged abruptly, can generate an electric spark with sufficient energy for sustained ignition of a solid rocket motor.

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